Varied temperature refrigerator



June 7, 1932. F. A. BERLIN 1,862,252

VARIED TEMPERATURE REFRIGERATOR Filed May 29. 1930 M ATTORNEYS.

v Patented June 7, 1932 UNJITED s'ra'rss PATENT orncs rammmcx A. 31mm. or wasnme'roir, manner or counters, n ssmnon :ro mnnrcm cnmncnn comlrairr, a COMMON-LAW raus'r or mssacnusms I VABIED TEMPERATURE REFRIGERATOR I Applicationflled Kay 89,

I This invention relates to refrigerating containers and has for its object the production of a simple and eflicient refrigerating container having a common refrigerant containing compartment and a plurality of individually and separately controlled temperature regulated storage compartments;

Another object of this invention is the production of a simple and efiicient refrigeratm ing container which may be either constructed for use as a stationary refrigerator suitable for markets, delicatessen stores and the-like or may be used upon truck's, wagons, railroad cars, or other forms of movable refrigeration as-well as thatof the stationary type. .A still further object of this invention is the production of a simple and eflicient arrangement of a refri erant containing compartment and a plurafity of stora e compartgo ments which communicate with t e'refrigerant containing compartment and are individ ually controlled to permit the storage compartments to maintain different degrees of temperature supplied from the main or com- :8 mon refrigerant containing compartment.

Other objects and advantages of the pres ent invention willappear throughout the followin specification and claims.

Int edraWingza go Figural is a front elevation partly broken away and partly in section of e refrigerab in container. I

igure 2 is a vertical'sec'tion through the container, and

Figure 3 is a transverse section throu h oneend of the container looking in the irection of the arrow.

By referring to the drawing it will be seen that 1 designates the-main body of the refrigerating container which may be formed of any shape or desired structure and is preferably formed or constructed of insulating 7 material in order that the desired temperature may be properly and economically main- 6 tained within the interior of the container. The container is preferably provided with a top cover 2 of any "suitable ordesired struc ture which may be hinged at one of its edges as indicated at'3.- A suitable grid 4 issupported near the top'of the container 1' as 1930. Serial no. $57,368. N

' stood, however, that any form of a cooler may be employed and if it is so desired chemical water ice may be used. The brine system may be used instead of the ice or direct expansion from a refrigerated unit using any of the well known refrigerating agents. It

should further be understood that mechanical refrigeration together with brine may serve to produce the refrigeration if it is so desired.

A partition 6 is mountednear the top of the containerl directly below the grid 4 and below this partition 6 is arranged a plurality c of spaced dividing walls 7 4 for the purpose of producing a plurality of individual storage compartments' 8. The front of these storage compartments 8 may be closed by means of suitable doors9 and within these doors 9 may be placed the usual glass panels 10 of suitable structure in order to permit the contents of the compartments to be viewed when itis so desired. I

-al'{he artition 6 is provided with a plu therein to register'with the various storage compartments 8,. and suitable. valve plates,

of apertures 11 or openings arranged shutters or loovers 12 arepreferably mounted therein in order that these openings '11 may be opened or-closed to control the temperature. betweenthe refrigerantcontaining compart-X These valve plates '11 maybe operated in any suitable or. desired :manner by means; of the" push rod 13which' pnsh rod 13 is connected; at its lower end to a suitable' 'thei'mostati 14 whichkis illustrated for. the purpose or eonvenience in the nature of a horseshoe expan ment 5 andthe storagecompartments 8.

sion thermostat. It shouldbeunderstood that" v any suitable or well known thermostatmay'c i be ggl yed and also that an *suitable valve may be employe for contm1 .;9

desi

ling the-"temperature withinr' the "individual compartments 8 from the generalior 're'frigers I 1 ant containing compartment-'5: Y derstood that within the com pa'rtments 18 suitable; trays or shelves may It isito' be be employed as indicated at 15 for the purpose of supporting articles of food.

It should be-borne in'mind that the present invention has particularly in view the gfoduction of an eflicient refrigerating mecasing, a refrigerant contaimrig compartment um' or container having a refrigerant supported in the upper end thereof in a com-' mon compartment and communicating with individual compartments located below or adj acent thereto, the temperature within the individual compartments being controlled through the medium-of any suitable or desired valve structure interposed between the refrigerant containing compartment and the storage compartment. It should be further understood that it is the purpose of this invention to provide individual thermostatic controlled means within each storage compartment for controlling the entrance of temperature reducing gases or air from the rerigerant compartment into the'storage compartments. This thermostatic control means ma be of an suitable or desired structure an instead using the rod illustrated for a direct movement of the loovers or shutters or valve plates, a hydraulic piston using alcohol tem or other suitable liquid acting upon the cylinder or electric magnet controlled by sultable wires and contacts may be used without departing from the invention.

In carrying out this invention, it has been found that a refrigerant such as dry'ice may be placed within the container at a temperature of 90, and. the various thermostats may be set within the various compartments 8, to maintain a temperature withm these various compartments such as follows zfor vegetables, 25 for milk, 0 for fish, etc., 18 for butter, 34 for meat.

One of the principal advantages of the present invention is the fact that the present device will ermit the food storage or supply house to de iver the various articles of food to the retail merchants, maintaining the various articles at their proper temperatures andbytproviding the retail merchants with the refrigerating device above described, these various articles of foodma' be retained at their desired temperatures y the merchants against s oilage. It is a well known located between said storage compartments and said refrigerant containmg compartment,

and thermostatic means for opening and closmg said valves.

2. A refrigerating container comprising a 3. A refrigerating container comprising a casing, a refrigerantcontaining compartment located in the top of said casing, a grid mounted therein for supporting the refrigerant carried within the compartment, a partition located below said grid and having a plurality of vent openings formed therein, valves for opening and closing said openings, a pluralit of compartments located below said partition, and individually controlled thermostatic means placed in each of said last mentioned com'partmentsfor opening and closing said valves whereby different temperatures may be uniformly maintained within the various last mentioned compartments.

4. A refrigerating device of the class described comprising a casing, said casing provided with a refri erant containing compart- I inent located in t e top thereof, a plurality of storage compartments located below said first mentioned compartment, a separate thermostatic means mounted within each of said storage compartments, and valve means in-, ter sed' between the storage c ompartments an the refrigerant containing compartment for maintaining a constant and different temperature within .each compartment all tem peratures being controlled from the refrigerant containing compartment throu h the medium of said valves and individual t ermostatic control means. i

In testimony whereof I aflix. m signature. FREDERICK A. ERLIN.

fact that the various articles of food requires various degrees of temperature which cannot be obtained by a common stora e compartment but by providing the in 'vidu'al rature controlled storage compartments the 00d may be placed in-those compartments wherein the desired temperature is maintained.

Having described my invention, what is claimed 1s 1. A refrigerating container comprisi g a casing having a refrigerant containing ompartment formed therein, a plurality of storage compartmentslocated below said refrigerantcontaining compartment, valve-means. 

